Hanover/Essen, May 2008. Semperit tyres are alpine proven and traditionally offer outstanding winter characteristics. This also applies to the Van-Grip, which is a convincing performer not just in snow and ice, but also on wet and dry roads.

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Excellent traction in snow and ice, outstanding protection from aquaplaning and high mileage are the key features of the Semperit Van-Grip. The performance characteristics of this winter tyre for MPVs have been improved by more than 10% versus its predecessor, particularly in terms of aquaplaning on the straight and in bends. The tyre's three wide circumferential channels and continuous lateral grooves enable it to discharge water and slush swiftly and directly out of the ground contact patch. Despite this safety bonus on wet roads, it also offers the traditionally good winter characteristics associated with the Semperit tyre family. To achieve this, the lateral grooves that disperse the water are arranged at an angle and the tread blocks feature a particularly large number of sipes. These create a multiplicity of gripping edges in both longitudinal and lateral direction that interlock with snow and ice on roads in winter.

Like its summer counterpart, the Van-Life, the Van-Grip also boasts the Flat Belt Concept, consisting of an exceptionally flat belt and a wide tread. The flat contour is a crucial factor in ensuring that the tyre rolls very evenly, thereby minimising tread wear by a remarkable 5% versus the previous model. This gives the Van-Grip a clear advantage in terms of mileage performance. In 2005, the motoring magazines 'pro mobil' and 'lastauto omnibus' tested Semperit's winter tyre for MPVs in the size 195/70 R 15 C 104/102 R and rated it as 'recommended'.

The Van-Grip will be available for the coming winter in a total of 19 sizes for 14", 15" and 16" rims, and is approved for speeds of up to 190 km/h (118 mph).

Semperit is a tyre brand of Continental AG. With targeted annual sales of more than i26.4 billion in 2008, the Continental Corporation is one of the world's leading automotive suppliers. As a supplier of tyres, brake systems, systems and components for the power train and chassis, instrumentation, infotainment solutions, vehicle electronics and technical elastomers, the corporation contributes towards enhanced driving safety and protection of the global climate. Continental is also a competent partner in networked automobile communication. Today, the corporation employs approximately 150,000 people at nearly 200 locations in 36 countries.

The tyre divisions are an Official Sponsor of UEFA EURO 2008^TM, which will be held in Austria and Switzerland in June 2008. For further details, visit the websites www.ContiSoccerWorld.com, www.ContiFanWorld.com and www.conti-online.com.